Dispensing container



Dec. 17, 1935.` E, B; AUGHNEY DISPENsNG CONTAINER Filed April' 29, 1955 "i '5 Y lslur ughnelgv l 4 Attorney Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nIsrENsING coN'rmEn Esther B. Aughney, Spokane, Wash.

Application April 29,

` 2 claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in dispensing containers of a type suitable for dispensing paper napkins, paper towels, and the like, and whereby the article within the dispenser will be protected from being soiled and is held in a compact manner until required for use.

A n object of the 'invention is in a dispensing container, of extremely simple and inexpensive construction that may be manufactured of any suitable sheet material and especially of cardboard or paper board that will lend itself to printing of ornament or decoration on the exterior surfaces, and which will be primarily useful in a home, diningroom, kitchen, or other place where such articles are required.

Another object lies in the provision of a dispenser which may serve as a container or receptacle for paper napkins and paper towels from the manufacturer to the consumer, into which' the towels or napkins may-be packed at the factory, which allows for necessary adjustment during use and which may be thrown away when The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts in the construction and for the operation of the dispenser as will hereinafter be more fullysetv forth, and

claimed.

` In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing container designedfor paper napkins'and embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is atransverse vertical section of the structure shown in Figure 1 taken at the approximate center of thelcontainer.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking plate used in connection with my invention and Figure 4 is a fragmentary and sectional viewI through a portion of the bottom member of the container and disclosing the locking device.v

The device illustrated in the drawing is designed primarily as a'dispenser for paper napkins as used in a home or on picnics for the purpose Aof dispensing a napkin that may be thrown away after use. But it will be evident 1935, Serial No. `18,737

(Cl. 20S-57) of theO top one of a stack of napkins which is 5 supported within the container.l About 'ce tral of the end 3 and adjacent thereto on the top Wall 2 I provide substantially semi-circular cut-out portions 6 and l, respectively; to form` space for the ngers when the napkin is to be grasped and Withdrawn through the slot 5.

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown the napkins 8, `each` arranged to present a folded face @for engagement by the fingers and for the purpose of withdrawal. The pile of napkins 8 15 within the container is supported by an upwardly movable bottom 9 comprising a lid-like structure vclosely'ritting within the container and having its top wall I0 serving as a floor or bottom for. the napkins 3. At the edgesA the bottom is folded down to form end ',walls II and side walls I2.

y These side walls at their longitudinal centerv or approximate thereto are joined by a ribbon or tape I3, the tape I3 being stretched from lower edge to lower edge of the sidewalls and secured to the side walls of the bottom in any substantial manner, preferably by turning up on the outside v of the side walls I2 of the bottom portion 9. Over the upturned edge of the tape I3 is secured a plate I4 having an angularly extending tongue 30 I5 projecting therefrom and 'cut or formed from the same material.- 'I'his plate I4 may be of metal or of an especially stiif grade of ber-board or the likeiandthe purpose of the tongue is to provide a latching or locking means for the bottom to hold the bottom to the side walls of the container. Qn the interior side walls of the container andabout centrally located to register with the tongue I5 a notched or perforated plate I6 is glued or otherwise permanently secured to the inside 40 edges of the container so that the plate will be maintained perpendicular therein and so that the tongue I5 formed on each side of the bottom 9 may engage in the notches to hold the bottom fixed and in a preferred adjustment with the container. i p

Paper napkins and like articles are subject to considerable expansion -in' their piled relation. When the container of my invention is' to be' used, a. quantity of napkins is placed within tainer.

the container is then in condition for wrapping and sale. In use, as the napkins are withdrawn lfrom the container, on account of the resiliency and expansive tendency of the napkins, the topmost napkin will| be projected up against the under side of the top 2 of the con- Until this expansive force has exhauted itself, the container may be continued to be used and the napkins taken therefrom. After a quantity has been used the bottom may bemoved up a notch or two through the action between the tongue I5 upon the locking plate I6. In this manner compression will again be added to the mass of napkins and the topmost napkin will always be held against the under side of the top of the container where it will be most readily accessible. The procedure thus outlined may be continued until the supply of napkins has been exhausted, in which event the container may be thrown away or reiilled.

In case it should be desired to refill the container with a fresh supplyvof napkins, the ribbon or tape I3 may be grasped at its approximate center and pulled as indicated in the dotted lines at I 'I, in which action the central portion of the side walls I2 of the bottomcwill be retracted, causing the tongue I5\ to become disengaged from the notches I8 in the locking plate, permitting withdrawal of the bottom for the purpose of adding a. new supply of napkins.

From the above description and byA inspection of the drawing Lit will thus be seen that the dis'- pensing container, as set forth, is Vadaptable for various quantities of napkins or similar articles because ofthe latitude of movement of the bott'om member with respect to the container proper.

The container herein set forth may be made of the usual cardboard or paper construction lending itself to inexpensive manufacture and may be supplied by the producer as a container for the napkins during storage, shipment, and sale. When the container is received by the householder it is ready and adaptable for immediate use without any manipulation and as the con- 5 tents are removed the bottom may be adjusted to maintain a proper pressure upon ythe remaining napkins until all in the container have become exhausted. vIf a refill is desired, th bottom may be unlocked, removed, and a new supply of 10 napkins placed therein and the operation in connection with the use of the container is repeated. Having thus `fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- 1 15 1. A dispenser for paper sheets comprising vertical walls and a top wall, a delivery opening in one of the vertical Walls having enlarged cutout areas on each -side of the opening and central therewith, a bottom having depending walls 20A and telescoping in the dispenser, tongue'plates mounted on opposed walls of the bottom and having resilient tongues engaging notched plates supported upon two inner walls of the dispenser to hold the bottom in various adjusted positions 25 ESTHER AUGHNEY, 

